Traditions and culture in the New Forest

The New Forest, an ancient mass of wild heathland and woodlands inhabited by a range of wildlife, has a rich history and a number of archaic traditions stretching back almost 1,000 years.

It was created as a royal forest towards the end of the 11th century by William the Conqueror for the purposes of hunting deer and other animals.

It subsequently became a source of timber for the Royal Navy, but the deliberate plantations encroached on the forest's formal common rights, which were established in 1698.

The region gained protection under an act of parliament in 1877 and has since been the subject of a series of further acts before becoming a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest' (SSSI) in 1971.

The forest was also put forward as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 1999 and was declared as a national park in 2005.

Things to do in the New Forest

With the New Forest Heritage Area covering around 580 km sq and the New Forest SSSI covering nearly 300 km sq, there is no shortage of sights to take in for anyone on holiday in the region.

The main attractions include the Buckler's Hard, the Beaulieu and the New Forest Show, while there are a number of cycling paths for the huge number of riders who visit each year.

However, the wild ponies, donkeys and deer are no strangers to nature lovers on holiday and rarely bat an eyelid as the cyclists pass by in their droves.

There are also a number of picturesque walking trails which connect the spattering of quiet villages that decorate the forest, with the chance to spot rare birds in the foliage.

Weather in the New Forest

The holiday information for the New Forest would not be complete without a look at the weather, particularly as its charms revolve around an exploration of the great outdoors.

Sun is usually in reasonable supply during the summer and warm, pleasant days can often be the norm between July and September.

However, the tide turns in the winter and it can get very frosty in the region, while snow is also a possibility between December and February.

Destination checklist for the New Forest

The New Forest has around 7.2 visitors every year (1992 estimate).

The region is on GMT/UTC time.

The official currency is the pound.

English is the official language spoken.

The region's international dialling code is +44.